Variable-speed gear.



PATENTBD APR. 28, 1908.

3. E. BARKER.

VARIABLE SPEED GEAR. J APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 10, 1907.

. //1/ VIA 77 1? @m .6 W41?) BAP/(2? 1H: NORRIS PETERS ca, WASHINGTON,D- cv .IOHN EDWARD BARKER, OF GREAT HORTON, BRADFORD, ENGLAND.

VARIABLE-SPEED GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 28, 1908.

Application filed August 10, 1907. Serial No. 388,037.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, JOHN EDWARD BAR- KER, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland, whose ostal-address is 29 Gathorne street,Great orton, Bradford, in the county of York, England, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Va? riable-Speed Gear, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in variable speed gearparticularly a plicable to pulleys and other rotary bodies rlven bybelt, rope, chain, and other suitable means, and its object is toimprove the efficiency of this class of transmission gear.

In describing my invention in detail, reference is made to theaccompanying sheet of drawings, similar letters indicating similarparts, in which Fi ure 1 represents a plan of a variable spee gearconstructed according to my improvement. Fig. 2 represents an elevationof one of the gear changing wheels hereinafter referred to. Fig. 3represents a plan of a portion of the periphery of the said wheel withthe expanding arms removed. Fig. 4 is a detail hereinafter referred to.

In carrying out my invention, I employ,

by preference, two disks A and A earned on shafts B and B, one shaftbeing the driven and the other the driver, as shown in Fi 1. The saidshafts are parallel to one anot er, and the said disks are made upsubstantially in the manner hereinafter described. These disks carry asuitable numberof ex anding segments S, preferably serrated, as shown atS, (Fig. 1) in order that they may readily interlock when closed, andwhen 0 en ive as large a bearing as is permissible or t e belt or thelike connecting the two sets of segments and disks.

The disks A and A are composed in the example shown in the drawin s, andwhich I have found satisfactory, of t ree plates'P, P P, such platesbeing adapted for six segments B, though more or fewer of such segmentsand plates may be used, as desired. In each late are formed a convenientnumber of s ldes O for the reception of toothed arms E by means of whichthe segments are carried, and expanded or contracted.

The opposite se ents S are rovided with double arms the remain er beingcarried by single arms, though it must be understood I do not confinemyself to this arrangement, the double arms E of one segment S operatingin the slides C as shown in Fig. 3, and the armsof the opposite segmentS in the slides C the remaining arms working in the other slides C,formed in the central plate P at each side thereof, as

shown in Fig. 4, as will be readily under- .tion on its shaft on the keyJ (Fig. 1).

Each of the sleeves J is preferably provided with an annular groove atone end and such groove carries thereon anti-friction ball facings, (notshown in the drawings.) The sleeves are'operated by means of aconnecting bar K, which embraces at its ends the shafts B and B the barbeing actuated by means of two suitably threaded shafts L, mounted insuitable bearings L and L such shafts passing through internallythreaded bosses M on the bar K. One end ofeach shaft L is provided witha bevel wheel N which is operated by another bevel wheel N carried on ashaft 0 operated by means of a wheel 0 or other suitable mechanism.

The power is transmitted from one expanding pulley to the other by meansof a belt or the like.

The thread J in one sleeve J is formed in a contrary direction to thatin the other, and as the bar K is operated, one pulley or set ofsegments is expanded, and the other contracted, and vice versa.

The space between the segments, when same are in their open position maybe bridged over by means of a flexible extension attached to eachsegment, and extending a suitable distance round the periphery of thesegments or pulley, and such extensions may be ribbed or fluted, so thatthe belt or the like may get a better grip of the pulley and allow theair to escape.

It will be understood that the segmental periphery may be constructed tosuit various modes of driving.

The arrangement of the small pinions towards the periphery of the disksor the like, gives, as Wlll be understood a much larger movement of thesegments than would be permissible were the pinions placed nearer thecenter of the disks and the sun wheel made smaller.

I am aware that expanding and contracting pulleys have been used invarious kinds of speed gearing, and that such pulleys have been made upof disks provided with slides for the reception of racks or toothed armscarrying segments, and that such racks have been operated either by onecentral pinion or by a series of pinions, operated by a main pinion orlike, such pinion being capable of a sliding movement; but to the bestof my knowledge and belief, the use of a sun wheel 0 erating pinionscarried towards the perip 1ery of the pulley or disks in the mannerhereinbefore described and shown is novel.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A variable speed gear com )rising twodisks each of which is made up oi a plurality of segments, racked armscarrying said segments, pinions engaging the racked arms, a sun wheelfor operating the pinions, arms connected with the sun Wheels, sleeveshaving each a thread engaged by the arms and a bar for operating thesleeves, substantially as described.

2. A variable speed gear comprising a 1 disk and expanding segments,racked arms carrying the segments, pinions engaging the racked arms andcarried by the disk towards the periphery thereof, a sun wheel, athreaded. sleeve and means for operating the sun wheel from the threadedsleeve, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twowitnesses. JOHN EDWARD BARKER. Witnesses:

CLIVE WAUGH, JosEPn P. KIRBY.

